World's biggest tire graveyard on fire. Cause, consequences and solutions
Last week was marked by news that shook the entire planet: the world’s biggest tire graveyard in Kuwait (where over seven million tires are stored) was on fire which could have transformed into a global environmental disaster if not extinguished quickly. The fire was so widespread that it was visible by satellite. In this context, more and more people are asking why the storing of such combustible materials is permitted in a country where temperatures reach 50C. We approached some environmental experts to share their opinion regarding this ecological disaster.
What are your comments on this incident? What, in your opinion, were the main causes?
“The huge fire that broke out in one of the world’s biggest tire graveyards in Kuwait highlights the well-known, and generally neglected, problem posed by the accumulation of used tires in the environment. Even when they are not burnt, large quantities of old tires in landfills have negative impacts on the environment, either in soil and water pollution or in facilitating the establishment of invasive species such as the Asian tiger mosquito that reproduces in the still waters trapped in the millions of dumped tires.”
“Thick smoke from the fire at the six-acre facility was captured via satellite. Many have speculated that it was a shot of Kuwait’s famous Sulaibiya tire cemetery and shared satellite images of the site showing smoke billowing from the stockpile. Indeed, gigantic holes dug in the sandy soil in the region of Sulaibiya in Kuwait contain approximately seven million tires. Fires in Kuwait’s vast tire stocks are quite common.”
What are the biggest consequences of this accident?
“When massive tire graveyards are set on fire, the pollution consequences worsen by several degrees of magnitude: the smoke releases toxic chemicals such as CO and SOx that are deleterious to human health; heavy metals are released into the soil and reach the groundwater causing very serious pollution, often irreversible.”
https://www.developmentaid.org/#!/news-stream/post/104725/worlds-biggest-tire-graveyard-on-fire
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